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Abilities vs Able - What's the difference?

abilities | able |

As nouns the difference between abilities and able

is that abilities is while able is a word that is used in place of the letter "a" during communication.

As an adjective able is

(obsolete|passive) easy to use .

As a verb able is

(obsolete) to make ready .

abilities

English

Noun

(head)

    • able

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete) hable

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from .

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (obsolete, passive) Easy to use.
  • * 1710 , Thomas Betterton, The life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, the late eminent tragedian. :
    • As the hands are the most habil parts of the body...
  • (obsolete, passive) Suitable; competent.
  • * 2006 , Jon L. Wakelyn, America's Founding Charters: Primary Documents of Colonial and Revolutionary Era Governance, Volume 1 , Greenwood Publishing Group, pages 212:
    • ...and for every able man servant that he or she shall carry or send armed and provided as aforesaid, ninety acres of land of like measure.
  • (obsolete, dialectal, passive) Liable to.
  • Having the necessary powers or the needed resources to accomplish a task.
  • Free from constraints preventing completion of task; permitted to; not prevented from.
    • I’ll see you as soon as I’m able .
    With that obstacle removed, I am now able to proceed with my plan.
    I’m only able to visit you when I have other work here.
    That cliff is able to be climbed.
  • (obsolete, dialectal) Having the physical strength; robust; healthy.
    • After the past week of forced marches, only half the men are fully able .
  • (obsolete) Rich; well-to-do.
    • He was born to an able family.
  • Gifted with skill, intelligence, knowledge, or competence.
    • The chairman was also an able sailor.
  • (legal) Legally]] [[qualify, qualified or competent.
    • He is able to practice law in six states.
  • (nautical) Capable of performing all the requisite duties; as an able seaman.
    • Synonyms
    * See also
    Derived terms
    * ability * -able * able-bodied * able seaman * ableism * be able, be able to * capable * disable * disabled * disablism * disability * enable

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) ablen, from (etyl) able (adjective).

    Verb

    (abl)
  • (obsolete) To make ready.
  • (obsolete) To make capable; to enable.
  • (obsolete) To dress.
  • (obsolete) To give power to; to reinforce; to confirm.
  • (obsolete) To vouch for; to guarantee.
  • * vi
    • None does offend, none....I’ll able ’em.
    Derived terms
    * abled

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (-)
  • A word that is used in place of the letter "A" during communication.

    • Statistics

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    References

    Anagrams

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